In Loving Memory
JoAnne Meeker
Daughter, Sister, Aunt and Friend. An admired artist tragically lost on October 21st 2020 near her home in Dubois Wyoming.
JoAnne was a beloved daughter to Louis & Elaine Keeby, Sister to James (Erin) & Michael (Wendy) Keeby and Aunt to Danielle, Sean, Austin and Kristin Keeby and partner to Tim Good. Highly admired in the Western Artist community for her Oil Paintings and Western Photographic prints. Joanne made a name for herself being featured in numerous art shows across the US & Canada including the Arizona Fine Art Expo and the Calgary Stampede; winning numerous awards including ” Best in Show”. She was also recognized by Hilton Hotels with a published 100 page photographic coffee table book depicting western life. Her Oil Paintings continue to be featured in the West Lives on Gallery, in Jackson Wy. Most recently she was broadening her portfolio being inspired by Monet and other masters.
JoAnne was a world traveler and made friends in numerous countries, although she was always drawn back to Yellowstone National Park which inspired her talent. She will be always remembered as a free spirited, kind hearted and caring friend to many around the world. A celebration of life is being planned for December 15th 2020 which would have been her 63rd birthday. Inquiries can be made to her family at Keebyins@gmail.com
Coyote: The perfect blend of chaos and harmony
Virtual Celebration of Life
Tuesday, December 15
5:30 PM Pacific
Please join us for a celebration of JoAnne’s life. Information on how to join the ceremony is below.
Before the day of the ceremony
1. Please register to attend the ceremony by clicking the button below.
2. If you do not already have Zoom, please download the application below.
On the day of the ceremony
Please refer to your registration email for instructions on joining the ceremony. Feel free to email hello@lightenarrangements.com if you need help.
Guestbook
Please join us in celebrating JoAnne’s life by sharing your stories and memories of her.
I’m sad that I will not hear your amazing laugh again or about your many adventures.
I will especially miss your easygoing ability to make friends with anyone and everyone.
Taken too soon. We (the horse girls) will keep your memory alive.
My best memory of my sister was when we were kids. She talked me and my brother Jim into flooding the linoleum hallway floor with soap and water when my parents were at dinner to we could slip and slide!
Mike, I’m so sorry to learn about Joanne’s tragic passing. After meeting her at the Arizona Art Expo many years ago, she inspired me to write an article about her life as an artist. She was definitely hitting her stride! I’m so proud to have two of her old truck art pieces hanging in my house and I miss her! If you’re interested, you can read the article here: https://cre8spacecom.wordpress.com/. All my best to you and your family.
We were in awe of JoAnne. She decided what she wanted and always found a way to get it. In the mournful days following her passing, I spoke to her beloved brother, Jim. I will always remember him saying, “You know, she was just beginning to hit her stride.” How true!
Her work in photography and oil painting was nothing short of world-class. Her reputation was growing throughout the Southwest and internationally. She was a sought-after, museum-quality artist. She was living the wanderlust life in Wyoming and had reconnected with a kind and equally adventurous gentleman from her past.
What she had always sought was coming true. The explorer had hit her sweet spot, but oh, there was so much more to be done. So much more beauty. So much more fun. So much more joi de vivre. So much more talent. So much more love.
She was always a delight and lived with me for a while. She was so much fun and the world has lost a great human being. I am so sorry for your loss.
I met JoAnne several years ago through the Calgary Stampede art show, but we really can’t became closer over the last four years. We talked almost every day, sometimes several times a day, comparing our paintings, sharing goals, ideas, videos and other artists we have seen and admired. And all of life’s little ups and downs. What a gutsy, loving, joy-sharing gal! I miss you my friend!
One of my favorite memories of my sister was a ski trip to Colorado that she invited me to go on with the company that she worked for. I met Rose and Didi on this trip and we never laughed so much or had so much fun and it was all due to JoAnne’s infectious laugh. I still remember her skiing down the mountain and getting cut off by another skier. She ran into a pine tree and did not move for a minute or two. All of a sudden, she started laughing and it got louder and louder. When she sat up, half of her body was covered in snow. Since she was wearing glasses, she could only see out of one eye. All of us started laughing. We had so much fun and laughter on that trip.
JoAnne was not only my sister, but she also was an artist, photographer, entrepreneur, motocross racer, skier, and cowgirl, she was one of my best friends and I will miss her dearly!
Whenever I think l of JoAnne the first thing that pops into my mind is her genuine and infectious laugh.
So many great stories as JoAnne always made every occasion fun. A couple of my most memorable are, one Halloween when we were kids JoAnne made us reach in a container to retrieve our treat but the container was full of boiled noodles (quite the trick). And later when JoAnne was living in LA she and I went to dinner on Rodeo Dr. with some of her freinds and after a great night of food and drinks as we were heading back home, enroute we got into a traffic jam on the Ventura Frwy at 2am in the morning, as we were completely stopped, many commuters including JoAnne and I got out of our cars and were dancing on the Frwy,
JoAnne was always full of surprises, we will greatly miss her and her incredible zest for life.
My favorite memory of JoAnne was when we went to visit her in California and she got me to go motorcross riding with her! I loved that she lived her life with adventure and created her amazing art finding her inspiration from her love of life experiences with people, animals and her favorite environments.
I think of JoAnne often especially now that we are gearing up for the Arizona Fine Art Expo. I connected with here there years ago because of our shared love of photography, horses and the West. It was amazing to watch her transition into an amazing painter who was able to capture the essence and spirit of her subjects. I will miss our long art talks!
I connected with JoAnne at the Expo, our booth spaces were close, so I often would visit her. Sometimes I’d offer unsolicited comments on the piece she was working on. She, initially opposed, but within a day would readdress the critique, either thanking me or ‘sticking to her guns’. We both enjoyed the discourse.
I’m extremely grateful for the ten we spent together on an ‘artist retreat’ in Dubois. There we explored Yellowstone, the Tetons and the backroads around Dubois; she was a wonderful guide, and knew the areas we’d be able to see the herds of buffalo, grizzly, black bear, moose, mountain goat, herds of antelope , horses and the nesting places of eagles. Together, we witnessed a fallen buffalo and members of the herd standing guard encircling him until he drew his last breath. Sharon and I were treated to the most amazing photographic safari. On days where the weather was bad we’d paint in her studio, often for 12 hours, breaking for meals. We took turns picking a subject to paint from the photo shoots. We’d would all work from the same reference. In the studio JoAnne was the teacher. In the evenings we’d watch artist videos, or talk. Her stories were rich in humor and her laughter contagious.
Friendships are a gift; JoAnnes’ life was rich in friends that genuinely loved her. Thank you, Jo Anne for the season we had together. You will be missed!
I will miss you, you were always down to earth, you had a wonderful personality, (happy go lucky) and such a great smile.. Every time I was around you I swear the room got brighter because of the person you were.. love always
went through my pictures and found the ones you me and Christine spent at the cape. what a wonderful day we all had. I guess I will have to wait till we all meet again in another place. love and miss you.
JoAnna Banana! – My life was much better for having you in it. You spread joy and happiness to all around you. Your smile was infectious. Aside from being a loving cousin, you were a motivator, confidant, friend, good listener and advisor, and an incredibly wonderful force of life. I’m grateful for our amazing journeys together and will carry those memories forever in my heart. Our cousin, David, who passed just the week before you was also an incredibly happy spirit and a bit of a clown. I imagine you have both joined forces in heaven – and have the angels dancing with laughter. I love you always and miss you terribly – your Noreenie Weenie!
I have two of Joanna’s photos in my home and was looking at them and thinking of her today. We met through a work project but as was her way, felt like old friends by the time we parted and every time afterwards her love of life and her laughter and words of wisdom cemented the bond. I will always be sorry not to have taken her up on her offer to visit her in Wyoming and will always treasure my two JM photos. I feel very lucky to have known her even for a short time.
While visiting an art gallery today in Sedona, my husband and I commented on several photos that reminded us of our horses that JoAnne photographed while passing through Texas. We met her on a whim at a horse show and hit it off, invited her to our home and through the years lost touch. Hence, typed in her name only to learn of her accident. I am literally speechless reading that JoAnne was tragically taken for this life. She was an amazing person, made friends easily and loved the life God blessed her with. Our girls, my husband and I are so fortunate to have known her. I pray she is enjoying every inch of Heaven, admiring the scenery and that her legacy lives on in her work and her family. With deepest sympathies from her friends in Texas. God bless you all….
Wow. I have been doing some decorating of my home with a designer and found Joanne’s card just recently. I am truly saddened by learning of her passing. I met Joanne in various venues and so admired her work. What a kind and special person in this world and above.
My condolences to you – her family and friends.
My husband and I met JoAnne at the San Antonio Rodeo many years ago. We instantly became friends; we would stand at her booth for hours catching up and admiring her beautiful work. We bought many pieces. we were extremely shocked & saddened when we saw she pasted. She had just started painting her last year at the rodeo. The reason we even found out was we recently bought a new house and wanted to purchase more pictures. Our sincere condolences to all. She is greatly missed.